After writing my last blog and talking to Erin, I felt so much peace.
God revealed Himself to me about a year ago and had me on my knees, He promised me that if I gave him my smoking habit (FOR REAL THIS TIME) that He would grant me my dream of running a marathon.
God is FAITHFUL!!!
This journey has not been an easy one, it has taken alot of hard work and dedication. Through the early morning runs, I have come to know God more that ever and continue to seek Him. At the age of 28, I am finally finding myself, figuring out who I truly am, what I stand for. I have discovered strength and drive that I had no idea I had. Each step closer to the marathon brings bigger dreams and confidence to dream big.
Running is therapy to me. This past year has been a year of healing for me. I have ran with joy, tears, confusion, frustration and each and every time I have felt release. Loosing my babies was such a tragic experience in my life, something I won't ever quite understand, but the time I spend running has given me peace.
Sometimes I get off track, I forget His promise to me. Sometimes I get too caught up in the "I have to run" feeling that it is not fun. Some days I don't even wanna run. But there is never a run I finish that I ever feel like I shouldn't have done it.
This is my personal journey with God and I feel like He takes the time to remind me every now and then, keep my mind and goal centered on Him. I can't do it without His presence.
My life has not been the hardest, but it has come with alot of challenges and hurts, alot of confusing moments where I just don't understand why, but I do know that He has been with me through it all. He has redeemed my life in a big way. He has given me a chance to live out my dream of becoming a marathoner and has also given me an opportunity to become a mother of strength, a mother who can show her daughters that it is okay to dream, it is okay to have goals and to show them that it IS possible with God!! I can now live my life free of addiction!! My girls will never have to smell cigarette smoke coming from their mother.
My heart in all of this is that I would show and give God the glory in all that I do with my life. Running is a gift He has given me. May my heart never forget that.
I haven't ran for 2 weeks. I have experienced alot of emotions. The strongest of them was doubt. My heart has been so far into this that the thought of not being able to run this marathon was so painful. I really think God allowed me to go through this to give me the question He has given me since the beginning of this journey: Where is your heart? Where is your focus? I need to constantly be reminded that God is not a "tool" in this journey... He is the finish line!! He is the reason I run and even though running helps with life, only He completes me. Running is a gift of worship He has granted me, a door to His presence.
I am very happy to say that this marathon is gonna happen. There were no broken bones found in my x-rays. My foot is feeling so much better, I am taking it nice and easy and will continue to train. Can you believe I have 6 weeks until the marathon??!!! I am so excited!! The butterflies are already starting to be felt. I can already envision myself at the start line. I'm really doing this!!! My heart is so full as I write this. God has truly blessed this journey.
Before I start this review, I just want inform readers that I am
reviewing Instead SoftCup, which is Period (Menstrual) protection. I
WILL GO INTO DETAILS!!!
So I was really excited when I came across an opportunity to give Instead Softcup a try through a blog I LOVE called For the Love of the Run.
This is how the challenge works: I receive free samples of the Instead
Softcup, I give them a try during a menstrual cycle and review them on my blog. In return, Instead
Softcup reimburses me the cost of a race registration!! So even though
I received the samples for free, the review expressed below is 100% my
opinion. :) So here it goes...
When I ran in high school, I had used pads until a friend of mine
introduced me to tampons, I found that when I wore them, I was a bit
uncomfortable and if I didn't have the right ones, I would leak. I also
noticed that I would begin feeling nauseous, not sure why. When I
stopped running, I would normally use pads, even though of course they
were not the most comfortable, they were better than leaking and feeling
sick. Since I started running again, I realized when running longer,
pads would not work, so I went and bought a box of tampons. It just
always seemed like the only other option. I dealt with the same issues
when running: feeling uncomfortable, nauseous and fear of leakage. I
reached my last straw when I ran 10 miles with the half marathon group a
month ago and had a very bad experience. I decided then I would start
researching other options and really wanted to see what other women long
distance runners where using instead of tampons. That is when I came
across Instead and the Softcup challenge.
They came in the mail right away and I instantly opened up the box it
came in. There was a paper that explained the challenge and a month/2
month supply of Softcups (depending on your cycle)
I decided to open up the Softcup box and take out one Softcup...
It came nicely sealed in a small purple wrapping, just as a pad or
tampon comes in. Before I opened the wrapping I decided to open up the pamphlet that came along (which one of my girls had already looked
through if you notice the wrinkled pamphlet!! ) It came with all the
information I needed. Here is some of the information I read:
It start off with a question: How does Softcup compare to tampons and pads?
-Softcup can be worn for up to 12 hours!! -Softcup is comfortable -Softcup provides leakfree protection that doesn't interrupt a woman's life -Softcup can be worn overnight. -When place properly, it cannot be felt when wearing -It can be worn during sports and swimming -It eliminates menstrual odor (flow not exposed to air) -Is not associated with Toxic Shock Syndrome -Does not contain residues of bleach, pesticide or dioxins -Can be a comfortable solution for women that experience heavy or irregular heavy or irregular periods. Softcup is approved by the FDA. It is made from a non-absorbent,
non- irritating medical grade material that has been used for more than
20 years in the healthcare industry and in medical device such as baby
bottle nipples and catheters. It does NOT contain latex, silicone or
dioxins. It is BPA-free and contains NO residual fibers, bleach,
pesticides carcinogens or PCBs.
"There are no strings and no wings"
More
than 100 million Softcups have been sold since the products
introduction in 1996, and there has NEVER been a reported incidence of
Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS).
I had to wait about a
week to officially use the SoftCups. I have to admit I was kinda
nervous trying something new. The pamphlet also came with a "how to"
page with illustrations, I, of course read the how to a couple of times
before I was confident that I could insert correctly.
Here are the steps:
1.) With
clean hands, and sitting on the toilet (which is the recommended position) Hold Softcup so that the bottom of the cup hangs down.
Squeeze the opposite sides of the rim together.
2.) Keeping
the rim squeezed together, Insert Softcup completely into your vagina.
When you are sitting, your vaginal canal is horizontal, sloping
slightly downward and back as far as it will go. It will slide into
place under the cervix and behind the pubic bone.
3.)
The Softcup then conforms to your internal shape, forming a personal
shape. When inserted properly, you shouldn't feel it. Softcup fits in
the natural space under the cervix and next to your pubic bone. If you
feel something in the vaginal canal, the cup is not placed far enough
inside of you.
Okay so I started on Saturday night. I decided I would give the Softcup a try while going to church the next morning. Sunday
After
relaxing and rereading the instructions carefully I inserted the soft
cup. Then continued on with getting my girls ready for church. It
didn't hurt but it did feel a bit uncomfortable. When I came home, I
did not have any leakage whatsoever, but I felt like I may have not
inserted it all the way. I decided to take it out and try it again.
Here
are the directions for taking the Softcup out:
4.) To remove Softcup, sit on the toilet with your knees apart.
Insert your finger into the vagina. Feel your pubic bone- the Softcup
rim will be right behind it. Hook your finger under the rim. Slowly
pull Softcup out of your body keeping it horizontal and level. Do
not pull down like you would with a tampon, as this can lead to
spillage. Place the Softcup inside the wrapper or wrap it in tissue and
throw away.
So after reading the directions. I went on ahead and took the Softcup
out. I think since I was a bit nervous, I did not pull it out correctly
and I did get (SORRY)... blood on my finger. I also didn't have anything prepared for when I was going to throw it away so that was another messy issue.
I went on ahead and inserted another Softcup. I made sure I pushed it
as far as it would go and began getting ready for the rest of my day.
My girls and I planned on going back to church for a Fun Fest, where
there was Inflatables playgrounds, games, food and some good music. I
did go to the restroom a couple of times to check on the Softcup... well
that and I have 2 toddlers that go potty now. :) I had no run planned for Sunday but I did chase after my girls a couple of times!! Here is a pic of Hope:
When we arrived home, I got my girls ready for bed and when they went to
bed, I went on ahead and decided to see how the Softcup was holding
up. I decided I would go on ahead and replace it. (I also wanted to
practice taking it out as the first attempt was a mess. :( I wore a
panty liner just in case, but again, didn't have any leaks!! This time I
had the wrap prepared and my hand was more stable taking it out so
there was no mess but still a little blood on the tip of my finger. My
cycle was pretty heavy this month and I contemplated whether I should
attempt to wear a softcup overnight. After thinking it over, I decided I
would go on ahead and give it a try. Monday
The next morning, lets say I slept about 6/7
hours. Hope woke me up as she always does by climbing all over me in
bed. I got up as I always do and did my normal routine (which usually
leads me to the kitchen.) As I was in the kitchen getting some breakfast
made, I remembered about the Softcup and ran to the restroom. I wore a
panty liner again, but there was no leakage!! Awesome!!! I got
everything prepared to take out and was more confident in taking it out
and was successful this time... No mess!! Woohooo!!! I decided that I
would go on ahead and try to wear the Softcup for 12 hours. I went on a
4 mile run that morning and could not even feel it!! Total comfort
while running!! I got home showered, and went on with my day. I really
think that I had placed it properly on that day because I did not feel
it all day. I put the Softcup in at 9 in the morning. I also put on a
pantyliner (just in case) All day when I went to the restroom, I would
check my pantyliner and had NO leakage. When 9 P.M came around I was
ready to take the Softcup out. When I went to the restroom to take it
out after my girls were in bed, there was a little bit of spotting on
my pantyliner but not a lot. I made sure to have the wrapper prepared
and also took my time taking it out. I had already prepared myself for a
mess and there was a little bit of blood but not like the first day that
I had tried it. I then did the same thing, wore one overnight with no
problems. Tuesday
I had decided I would wear the
Softcup for 6 hours instead of 12. I ran 4 easy miles in the morning and
went about my day with no issues, no pain, no sickness, no leakage. Wednesday
By
day 4 I felt like I perfected the insertion of the Softcup and really
liked that I could not feel anything!! I didn't feel sick, I ran 6 miles
and again had no leakage. The only thing that I have not perfected is
taking it out but I do think if I keep on practicing I will get it
right.
I
had intended to go on a long run on the 5th day but my cycle had
already finished. It seemed like this time it was a very heavy/short
cycle. I am definitely gonna need to add to this review when I do run
10+ miles next month. In conclusion, I have to say that I really like
Instead Softcups, When they are placed properly, you seriously forget you
are on your period. I had no leakage during this trial. When wearing
tampons, I was always so paranoid that I had leaked through, and some
times I did. With Softcup, the only time there was a little leakage
(spotting) was when I tried it for 12 hrs.
Running with the Softcup was
awesome because again, there was so pain/ discomfort and no leakage.
As I mentioned before, the only issue I had was taking it out but that
to me, is a small thing and the pros totally outweigh the one con I
experienced. Like any new thing, of course it does take time to get
used to inserting/taking out the Softcup, I know that for some that may
consider giving it a try, it will take time. I was so ready to try
something different. I DON'T LIKE tampons!! I look forward to continuing my use of Instead Softcup. I will be officially starting marathon training in a couple of months!! I'm excited to run longer mileage and happy that I will be using Softcup along the way. With that said, I normally run with a 20oz. handheld water bottle (Amphipod) This handheld bottle has a pocket to store keys, gels..etc, I decided to place a Softcup in the pocket to see how well it fits:
It fit nicely since the Softcup is compact and flat, lots of space left for gels, keys, etc!!
Did I mention that softcup can be worn during intercourse?? Yup it can.
If you would like more
information, don't hesitate to ask me questions or you can check out
their website: http://www.softcup.com/ and "Like" their Facebook Page
